Means for producing relative movement between two bodies

ABSTRACT

Means for moving one body relative to another comprises a main toothed rack carried on one body and at least three actuators carried on the other body. Each actuator carries a stub rack of similar form to the main rack and is operable to force the stub rack into engagement with the main rack. The spacing between the actuators causes the bodies to move relative to one another in the required direction.

United States Paten [72] Inventor Maurice Woolmer Gribble [56] References Cited Marple cheshlrs' UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 517 681 12/1924 Luce 74 y /110 21 App]. 1w. 739,459 2,999,902 9 1961 Swartz.. 74/110 [22] Filed Jan. 7, 1969 3,156,125 11/1964 Straub 74/126 fi 2 3, 4 d E l d 3,200,658 8/1965 RUCllSCh.... 74 129 [73] Ferram' 3,481,212 12/1969 Delaney 74/142 [32] Priority Jan. 13, 1968 33 Great Britain Primary Examiner-William F. ODea 3 2023 Assistant ExaminerWesley S. Ratliff, Jr.

Attorney-Cameron, Kerkam and Sutton l 54] MEANS FOR PRODUCING RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN Two BODIES ABSTRACT: Means for moving one body relative to another comprises a main toothed rack carried on one body and at 5 Clams 6 Drawing Figs least three actuators carried on the other body. Each actuator [52] 11.8. CI 7 1/1110 carries a stub rack of similar form to the main rack and is [51 1 Int. Cl Flfili 21/441 operable to force the stub rack into engagement with the main [50] Field of Search 74/ l 10, rack. The spacing between the actuators causes the bodies to 126, 129, 130, 142, 567 move relative to one another in the required direction.

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MEANS ll 'Ollt IITTGID UCING lltlElLATlll/IE MUVlEIi/lllENT llill ETWlElEN TWO BODlllEfi This invention relates to means for producing relative movements between two bodies.

More specifically it relates to means for accurately positioning a machining head in any of a series of positions with respect to a workpiece, said positions being defined by the intersections of the rows and columns of a rectangular grid.

According to the present invention there is provided means for producing relative movement between two bodies comprising a main toothed rack attached to one of the two bodies and at least three actuators attached to the other body, each actuator being operable to force into engagement with the main toothed rack a stub toothed rack of the same tooth pitch as the main rack, the stub racks being spaced from one another along the main rack by a distance differing from an integral number of rack tooth pitches by a like fraction of a pitch equal to the reciprocal of the number of actuators.

Also according to the invention there is provided means for accurately positioning an operational head in any of a series of positions with respect to a member, the positions being defined by the intersections of the rows and columns of a rectangular grid, including a. A fixed bed on which is located the member and which carries a carriage movable in a straight line relative to the member,

b. A slide carrying the operational head and mounted on the carriage so as to be movable relative thereto in a straight line perpendicular to the direction of movement of the carriage,

c. Control means responsive to information signals to control the movement of the carriage, slide and operational head, and

d. transport means operable to move the carriage relative to the fixed bed and the slide relative to the carriage in response to the information signals, wherein the transport means comprises a main toothed rack attached to one of each pair of relatively movable bodies and at least three actuators attached to the other of each pair of bodies, each actuator being operable to force into engagement with the associated main toothed rack a stub toothed rack of the same tooth pitch as the main rack, the stub racks being spaced from one another along the associated main rack by a distance differing from an integral number of rack tooth pitches by a like fraction of a pitch equal to the reciprocal of the number of actuators.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B show a simplified form ofthe invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a machine tool incorporating the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the machine tool of FIG.

FIG. t is an enlarged end elevational view of part of the machine tool; and

FIG. 5 is an underside view of the part of the machine tool shown in FIG. t.

Referring now to FIGS. 1A and TB, these show three actuators, A, B and C, which are fastened to one of the two bodies. Each actuator is operable to move a plunger D which carries at its extremity a stub toothed rack E. The three stub racks are of the same form and pitch as one another, and as a long main rack F which is fastened to the other of the two bodies.

The spacing I between the actuators is such that the plungers are separated by a distance equal to an integral number of rack tooth pitches plus or minus a fraction of a pitch equal to the reciprocal of the number of actuators. In the case shown in FIG. 1A there are three actuators, and the offset l between plungers is shown as seven plus one-third rack tooth pitches. Operation of actuator B will have no effect, but operation of actuator A will cause the rack F to move to the left by onethird of a rack tooth pitch, and operation of the actuator C will cause the rack to move to the right by onethird of a rack tooth pitch. Continuous movement of rack IF to the left is thus produced by operating the actuators sequentially in the order ACBACB, and continuous movement of the rack F to the right is produced by operating the actuators in the order CAB- CAB.

In FIG. IS, the spacing I of the plungers is seven minus one-third rack tooth pitches. The direction of movement of the rack F for any sequence of operation of the actuators is the reverse of that given above. Movement will still be in steps of one-third of a rack tooth pitch. Hence continuous movement of rack F to the left is produced by operation of the actuators in the sequence CABCAB, whilst movement of rack F to the right is produced by operation of the actuators in the sequence ACBACB.

If more than three actuators are used, then the fraction of a rack tooth pitch included in the offset between plungers will, of course, no longer be one-third. This fraction is always the reciprocal of the number of actuators.

It must be noted that, as described above, thefraction of a pitch must always be added to the integral number of pitches, or must always be subtracted from the integral number of pitches, though the integral number itself need not be constant.

Nothing has yet been said about the type of actuator. The most likely forms are hydraulic, pneumatic or electromagnetic.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the machine tool includes a fixed bed lltl on which is fixed a pair of rails ll and 12. The rail 111 is supported in blocks l3 fastened to the bed, and the rail 112 is fastened to one edge of the bed parallel to rail lll. Slidable on the rails 1111 and 112 is a carriage M which supports a further pair of rails 15 and 16 arranged at right angles to the rails ill and 12. The rails 15 and 16 carry a slide 117 on which is mounted a machining head 13 and also the means for moving the slide 17 relative to the carriage l4, hereafter referred to as transport means.

Hereinafter the direction parallel to the rails and 116 will be referred to as the Y direction and the direction parallel to the rails 1111 and 12 will be referred to as the X direction.

The transport means for moving the carriage 1d relative to the fixed bed 10 are mounted on the bed. Since the two trans port means are substantially identical, the same reference numerals will be used to refer to both, where applicable.

FIGS. t and 5 show more detail of the transport means attached to the slide, and hence this will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5.

Three electromagnets 2t), 21 and 22, hereafter referred to as the Y electromagnets, are carried on. the slide, each having a straight armature 23 movable in the X direction. The end of each armature remote from the associated electromagnet abuts against a pivoted bellcrank lever 24. The lever is pivoted in a bush 25 passing through the body of the slide 117, and extends below it. The lower end of the bellcrank is forked and fits astride a narrowed portion of a horizontal pushrod 26, movable in the X direction and supported in ball bearings 27 located in two webs 28 under the slide. The pushrods 26 are located in line with the center of the rail 15 on which the slide is carried.

The remote end of each bellcrank lever 24 is pivotally attached to the cylinder of a dashpot 29, the piston of which is attached to a trunnion 30 carried on a supporting member 31. A needle valve is carried on the dashpot piston and is adjustable by means of a screwed extension 32. An extension 33 of the bellcrank lever 2d beyond the dashpot carries an adjusting screw 3d and is arranged so as to actuate a microswitch 35 when the mechanism is in one of its two extreme positions.

Each electromagnet operates a mechanism identical to that described in FIG. ll above, the three pushrods 26 being parallel to one another and at right angles to the rail 15. On the rail 15 is carried a toothed main rack 36, projecting towards the pushrods 26. Each pushrod carries a stub toothed rack 37 of the same pitch and form as the main rack 36. The spacing between the pushrods 26 is equal to an integral number of rack tooth pitches plus (or minus) a fraction of a pitch equal to the reciprocal of the number of electromagnets as described above. Hence the stub racks 37 are offset from one another by one-third of a rack tooth pitch.

The transport means for moving the carriage 14 in the X direction is identical to the means described above. The only differences are in the location of the parts of the mechanism. For example the electromagnets 40, 41 and 42, hereafter referred to as the X electromagnets, together with the associated bellcrank levers, dashpots, pushrods and the like are all mounted on a supporting block 43 fastened to the bed of the machine. The corresponding main rack 44 is carried on the carriage as shown in FIG. 2. The X electromagnets such will be required to be more powerful than the Y electromagnets such the carriage 14 will be heavier than the slide 17.

The remaining part of the mechanism is that controlling the machining head. This comprises an electric motor 45 carried on the slide and operating a drill bit or milling cutter (not visible) which projects through a slot 47 in the base of the carriage 14. The motor 45 is carried in eccentric trunnions 48 and is constrained by a guide 49 so that is only able to move vertically, that is in the 2 direction. Movement of the motor is controlled by an electromagnet 50, the Z electromagnet, the armature 51 of which acts on a tie bar 52 connecting one end of eacheccentric trunnion 48. Carried on the motor housing are two microswitches 53 which cooperate with an adjustable stud 54 carried on a rod 55 fastened to the slide. An extension 56 of the electromagnet armature away from the motor 45 cooperates with one end of a pivoted cranked lever 57 attached at the outer end to the cylinder of a dashpot 58. The dashpot piston is supported in a trunnion 59 pivotally carried on a supporting member 60.

In order to reduce frictional forces the slide 17 and carriage 14 will be carried on the rails 15, 16 and 1 1, 12 respectively by ball bearing bushes.

The energization of a single electromagnet, say 22, results in the armature 23 causing the bellcrank lever 24 to pivot about the pivot pin in bush 25. The lower forked end of the lever 24 moves the pushrod 26 so that the stub rack 37 is moved towards the main rack 36. As shown in H6. 5, the stub rack 37 operated by electromagnet 22 is offset from the position of the main rack by one-third of a rack tooth pitch. Hence as the stub rack is forced into engagement with the main rack, the slide will move along the rails and 16 to bring the two racks into alignment. lf, therefore, it is required to move the slide sideways, it is necessary to energize the three Y electromagnets sequentially in the correct order. For example, to move the slide to the right as shown in FIG. 2, the Y electromagnets must be energized in the order 20, 21, 22, 20, 21.... It is necessary for each electromagnet to be deenergized before the next one is energized. To lock the slide in a particular position it is only necessary to maintain the energization of the electromagnet which causes the final movement to that position.

Movement of the carriage is brought about by operating the X electromagnets in a similar manner.

The dashpots connected to the transport means are provided to prevent too abrupt movement of the mechanism. The speed of movement may be controlled by altering the delay provided by the dashpots. This is done by adjustment of the needle valve 32 of each dashpot.

As well as operating the dashpots, the bellcrank lever 24 also control microswitches 35. The transport means are con trolled by signals from a punched tape driven through a tape reader by a stepping motor. The microswitches 35 control the stepping motor in known manner so that the tape cannot be advanced until the previous signal has been acted on. This is necessary on account of the complexity of the transport means and the fact that the carriage and slide will move at different speeds.

The operation of the machining head is straightforward. When the electromagnet 50 is energized the operational head is lowered, one of the microswitches 53 indicating when this has occurred. Deenergization of the electromagnet 50 raises the machining head and operates the other one of the two microswitches 53.

Movement in the X and Y directions may take place simultaneously, but the carriage and slide must be locked in position when the operational head is moving.

The positioning accuracy of the machine is dependent only on the pitch of the two main racks 36 and 44. The workpiece to be operated upon will be clamped to the bed of the machine by clamping means (not shown).

Nothing has been said about the method of coding the required signals on to the punched tape since this is well known to those skilled in the art. Control means other than punched tape may be used, for example, magnetic tape.

1 claim:

1. Means for producing relative movement between two bodies comprising a main toothed rack attached to one of the two bodies and at least three actuators attached to the other body, each actuator comprising a stub toothed rack having a plurality of teeth of the same tooth pitch as the main rack and being operable to force the teeth thereof into engagement with the main toothed rack, the stub racks being spaced from one another along the main rack by a distance differing from an integral number of rack tooth pitches by a like fraction of a pitch equal to the reciprocal of the number of actuators.

2. Means as claimed in claim 1 in which the stub racks are spaced from one another by a distance equal to an integral number of rack tooth pitches plus a fraction of a pitch equal to the reciprocal of the number of actuators.

3. Means as claimed in claim 1 in which the stub racks are spaced from one another by a distance equalto an integral number of rack tooth pitches minus a fraction of a pitch equal to the reciprocal of the number of actuators.

4. Means as claimed in claim 1 which includes three actuators.

5. Means as claimed in claim 1 in which the actuators are electromagnets. 

1. Means for producing relative movement between two bodies comprising a main toothed rack attached to one of the two bodies and at least three actuators attached to the other body, each actuator comprising a stub toothed rack having a plurality of teeth of the same tooth pitch as the main rack and being operable to force the teeth thereof into engagement with the main toothed rack, the stub racks being spaced from one another along the main rack by a distance differing from an integral number of rack tooth pitches by a like fraction of a pitch equal to the reciprocal of the number of actuators.
 2. Means as claimed in claim 1 in which the stub racks are spaced from one another by a distance equal to an integral number of rack tooth pitches plus a fraction of a pitch equal to the reciprocal of the number of actuators.
 3. Means as claimed in claim 1 in which the stub racks are spaced from one another by a distance equal to an integral number of rack tooth pitches minus a fraction of a pitch equal to the reciprocal of the number of actuators.
 4. Means as claimed in claim 1 which includes three actuators.
 5. Means as claimed in claim 1 in which the actuators are electromagnets. 